Among the patents particularly noticed in the Commissioner's report, is one for a shingle machine, which cuts the shingles in a peculiar form. The shingles cut by this machine does not taper from one extremity to the other, but the taper is confined to about half the length of it at one end, the faces of the remaining half being parallel to each other. This shape of the shingle avoids the bending which is incidental to those of the ordinary form, when nailed upon the roof--an object well worthy of attainment.